Leaky Rear Bench

[Mitchen]

My coupe came out of storage yesterday and it’s currently got no rear interior in it. It sat outside last night, and with all the rain we had overnight, this morning I’ve noticed puddles where the rear bench should be. Now we’re not talking rivers but I guess that’s irrelevant. It’s only on the drivers side. I’ve felt the head lining and it seems dry. Any ideas?

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[biffer]

Leaky clips on the exterior C-pillar trim?

[Mitchen]

Leaky clips on the exterior C-pillar trim?

I don’t think so. They were just changed months ago when the car had paint. Experienced E30 bodyshop.

I just ran two jugs of water down the sunroof drains with the car on a slight steep and it was pouring out of the rear bumper drains as expected. That was a relief!!

[martauto]

Long shot but rear light seals??
Mine ran down the boot to the rear bench etc ?
Cotswolds were the cheapest around and the best.
Mart.

[Mitchen]

I don’t think so. The boot seems to be dry.

The plot thickens.. I’ve just sat in the car whilst it was pouring down just now. Now it seems I have two areas of build up. They may or may not be coming from the same source (probably are).

Firstly this area here

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It’s bizarre because the water isn’t running along that cable.. and I’ve run my finger along the rest of that padding/insulation but it seems dry. I can’t explain it! Behind that is obviously the underside of the car. The cars parked FYI. It’s not been driven in the rain. So this water isn’t coming up from the road.


The second area is on the offside here. Hadn’t been a lot just now when it was pouring but I noticed it was slightly wet. Obviously left for 8 hours in rain there would be a puddle like I noticed this morning.

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[Mitchen]

I’ve now also found some drops right at the end of the boot where the hole is for what I think is a fuel vent pipe? How the hell it’s getting there I have no idea. That pipe is somewhat crusty, but water doesn’t travel up!

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[biffer]

Perhaps rear screen is leaking somewhere? If you lift up the parcel-shelf and have a look for pools of water on the sheet-metal up there.
On my saloon i have an unusual spot of rust- in the front n/s corner of the boot-aperture, where three or four layers of sheet-metal meet up. If i let this develop i would imagine it would eventually let water in.

[flybynite]

Rear pop-outs not sealing?

[Mitchen]

Thanks chaps.

I’ll check the parcel shelf tomorrow. Don’t think it’s the pop outs though as I was quite thorough in feeling around them and couldn’t feel any moisture.

My bet is something to do with that pipe, I just don’t know the connection between that and the outside elements yet.

[Mitchen]

So the leaks on the rear bench are coming from behind. There’s a build up at the bottom of the reverse panel which is seen from the boot. I’ve no idea how it’s getting there. But I think it’s building up here and then working its way to the rear bench.

Strange thing is there appears to be no residue from above at all. The parcel shelf is bone dry, the turrets are dry. The rest of the boot is completely dry! I’m stumped at the moment but I’ll persevere

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[Satan]

Rear boot seal maybe, give it a good going over with rubber conditioner or cover it with pallet film.